Would you rather have Clippers forward Blake Griffin (pictured) or Lakers center Andrew Bynum? MICHAEL GOULDING, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Andrew Bynum or Blake Griffin?

One is 24 years old, 7 feet tall, just finished his first All-Star season, averaged double figures in points and rebounds and could develop into a Hall of Famer.

The other is 23 years old, 6-foot-10, just finished his second All-Star season, averaged double figures in points and rebounds and could develop into a Hall of Famer.

With the credits having rolled on our NBA season and the offseason speculation already in midseason form — keep in mind that over the next four months fewer than one-half of a percentage point of the deals rumored actually will happen — we've decided to stoke the conversation with a two-name debate.

So, how about it, fans? It's your call ...

Andrew Bynum or Blake Griffin?

Which would you rather have today and 10 years from now?

The classic big man, the better defender, the one who one night grabbed 30 rebounds, the player whose focus can wander and take his effort with it?

Or the classic power forward, the athletic marvel, the one who once dunked over a car, the player whose desire is never questioned though his tendency to flop is?

Andrew Bynum or Blake Griffin?

Even if a choice springs to mind, more thought muddies the process. Because of their differences, it's just not that easy of a call, is it?

One of the intriguing elements is the uncertainty that frames the question. This isn't Kobe vs. LeBron, Chris Paul vs. Tony Parker. All four of those players are known entities.

These are two guys still very much developing, two players who could one day be established among the game's all-time greats.

Or, seeing how they've missed significant time because of serious injury, both Bynum and Griffin represent the timeless risk of potential gone unfulfilled.

Maybe it would help to think of it this way: If you had one of them, would you trade him for the other?

If you're Mitch Kupchak, would you swap Bynum for Griffin right now? Pau Gasol would have to move back to center and the interior defense would suffer, but imagine how much more athletic the aging Lakers suddenly would become.

If you're Neil Olshey, would you give up Griffin in exchange for Bynum? With the current roster, the move would clutter things a bit, but isn't one of Clippers' problems a lack of production at center? Just picture Bynum's value down low when paired with a point guard who can penetrate and draw attention.

Now, the chances of Bynum and Griffin being traded for one another are roughly the same as the odds of the legacies of Jerry Buss and Donald Sterling being confused.

But it is fun to consider all possibilities, no matter how insane they sound initially. Maybe that's why it has been reported that Orlando is interested in Shaquille O'Neal as a GM.

The upside with both Bynum and Griffin is staggering. When you consider how far Bynum has come from high school, where he didn't even lead his team in scoring, and how far Griffin has gone already in the pros, with little offensive refinement, the prospects are dizzying.

We're talking about players who still haven't sniffed their primes, building blocks not just for a team but for a franchise. The more you start to like one better, the more you can't help but like the other even more.

Griffin is easily the more spectacular, but Bynum recently dominated a playoff game in which he took only seven shots. Bynum is a machine in churning out double-doubles, but Griffin once had 27 of them in a row.

So, how about it, fans? What's your call?

Andrew Bynum or Blake Griffin?

Personally, we've wavered while just writing this. We've also tried to bear in mind that there once was a debate about which quarterback would be better in the NFL — Peyton Manning or Ryan Leaf?

See, there's really nothing for us to lose. We're going to go with the more sound body, the more committed spirit. We're going to go with Blake Griffin, figuring he'll develop a consistent mid-range game, improve defensively and not lose an ounce of his want.

But we aren't thrilled about passing on Andrew Bynum, creaky knees and leaky temperament and everything else. That much talent stretched to 7 feet is a rare combination.

Right now, we're safe. There isn't a wrong answer to this question. Maybe there never will be.

Maybe we'll still be debating this years from now. Maybe Bynum and Griffin will be, too, a pair of retired legends retracing their Hall of Fame careers.

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